Acoustic ribbon transducer arrangements

Abstract

A ribbonned microphone assembly, for adjustable sound receiving capabilities, including a transducer having a surrounding flux frame for positioning at least two magnets adjacent a suspended ribbon between the magnets. An array of receiving apertures is arranged in the flux frame. At least one curved return ring positioned in the receiving apertures to create a return path for magnetic flux in the transducer.

1. A ribbon microphone assembly comprising:
 a transducer having a surrounding flux frame for positioning at least two magnets adjacent a suspended ribbon between said magnets; 
 wherein the frame has a first end and a second end and at least one of the first end or the second end comprise a continuous portion of the flux frame to form a return path for magnetic flux in said transducer; 
 an array of receiving apertures arranged in said flux frame; and at least one curved return ring positioned in one of said receiving apertures to create an additional return path for the magnetic flux in said transducer. 
 
     
     
       2. The microphone assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said flux frame has parallel sides. 
     
     
       3. The microphone assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said flux frame has tapered sides. 
     
     
       4. The microphone assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said flux frame has side apertures thereon. 
     
     
       5. The microphone assembly as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said side apertures are non-circular. 
     
     
       6. The microphone assembly as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said side apertures are elongated and curvilinear. 
     
     
       7. The microphone assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the ribbon is formed by depositing a layer onto a form having a predetermined ribbon pattern. 
     
     
       8. A microphone assembly comprising:
 a transducer having a surrounding flux frame; 
 at least two magnets adapted to create a magnetic flux; 
 a suspended ribbon positioned in a gap between the magnets; 
 wherein at least one of a first end or a second end comprise a continuous portion to form a pathway for the magnetic flux in the flux frame; 
 at least one additional pathway for the magnetic flux wherein the at least one additional pathway increases the magnetic flux in the gap between the magnets wherein the at least one additional pathway comprises a curved metal ring, and wherein the flux frame further comprises an aperture for receiving the curved ring. 
 
     
     
       9. The microphone assembly as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the at least one additional pathway is arcuate. 
     
     
       10. A microphone assembly comprising:
 a transducer having a surrounding flux frame: 
 at least two magnets adapted to create a magnetic flux; 
 a suspended ribbon positioned in a gap between the magnets: 
 wherein at least one of a first end or a second end comprises a continuous portion to form a pathway for the magnetic flux in the flux frame; and 
 additional pathways for the magnetic flux wherein the additional pathways increase the magnetic flux in the gap between the magnets, and wherein the additional pathways comprise a plurality of curved rings and a plurality of apertures for receiving the plurality of curved rings. 
 
     
     
       11. The microphone assembly as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the flux frame has parallel sides. 
     
     
       12. The microphone assembly as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said flux frame has tapered sides. 
     
     
       13. The microphone assembly as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said flux frame has side apertures thereon. 
     
     
       14. The microphone assembly as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said side apertures are elongated and curvilinear. 
     
     
       15. The microphone assembly as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the ribbon is formed by depositing a layer onto a form having a predetermined ribbon pattern. 
     
     
       16. The microphone assembly of  claim 8  wherein the ribbon is multilayered. 
     
     
       17. The microphone assembly of  claim 8  wherein the at least one additional pathway extends through a path of sound waves received by the microphone assembly without substantially blocking the sound waves. 
     
     
       18. A microphone assembly comprising:
 a transducer having a surrounding flux frame; 
 at least two magnets adapted to create a magnetic flux; 
 a suspended ribbon between said magnets; 
 wherein at least one of a first end or a second end of the flux frame comprise a continuous portion to form a pathway for the magnetic flux in the flux frame; 
 a plurality of additional pathways for the magnetic flux adapted to increase the magnetic flux in the gap between the magnets and extending in an area between the ribbon and sound waves received by the microphone assembly without substantially blocking the sound waves; and 
 wherein the plurality of additional pathways comprise a plurality of curved rings and a plurality of apertures for receiving the plurality of curved rings. 
 
     
     
       19. The microphone assembly of  claim 18  wherein the plurality of additional pathways comprise a plurality of ribs. 
     
     
       20. The microphone assembly of  claim 19  wherein each of the plurality of ribs comprises a metal arc.